1984Echoes

A) Noone cared about the Taliban violating the agreement. We knew they were going to do that anyways. So... moot point. Trump wanted to pull out in December, before the agreed upon February pull-out date and even knowing the Taliban were violating the agreement, he didn't care. We were coming out of Afghanistan regardless because... no. one. cared. B) Again, don't care. We spent 20 years, 2.3 trillion, and 2,456 American lives on propping up a dysfunctional Afghani government that FAILED. No one CARES what the military wanted, and I hate the thought of 30-40% of Afghani's being forced into a Taliban government, but we GAVE THEM 20 Years of chances. What is YOUR solution? Another 20 years, 2.3 trillion, and 2,456 American lives. What is you POINT here, exactly? C) It was ALWAYS an intelligence failure. What don't you get about the Taliban sweeping through the country in less than 30 days versus intelligence's estimate of between 1 to 2 years? Of COURSE Biden made the decision to get out, at the time he did, I've never said otherwise. And why would I want anything OTHER than Biden to get us out of Afghanistan? I've said multiple times and in multiple ways, it was well past time to get out. But since I only deal in facts: It was Trump's deal. Biden's generals specifically asked for a delay from the February deadline because they needed more time to pull everything out (American equipment, etc...) AND the pandemic was complicating things I believe. I absolutely wanted Biden to get us out of Afghanistan, it was well past time to do so; 95% of America wanted us out because we ALL were fatigued. Intelligence said we'd have 1 to 2 years to make the final move, that didn't happen. Biden said we're getting out when the country fell apart on a Taliban sweep of Afghani forces. Those are all facts. So what's your problem? Or are you criticizing simply because you're looking for ANY reason to criticize Biden...? Oh, THAT's it!!! You have a fetish for Biden. Using any illegitimate means possible. Disingenuous.

I think our payroll is too low for cost to matter at all. Cost factors in at ZERO. Use the extra money wherever you want... we aren't going to have a $195MM payroll. Where do you want to use... what savings? The issue is not money, it's 40-man spots. Find a better player for the Tigers, put him on the 40. Money doesn't matter. Find an upgrade by waiver, rule 5, trade? Great. And whoever loses their spot on the 40 because we found an upgrade loses their spot. Money don't matter.

Biden was absolutely going to pull out, I don't think there was any other possibility aside from that. I don't think anyone disagreed with that. Of course he was going to make the call to remove troops. It was a shit-show because his generals (not being able to move fast enough in February) and intelligence (total failure on Taliban-takeover timeline) failed the country, and Biden... leaving him with Vietnam-situation that forced his hand. If his generals could have moved faster and we pulled out in February, or March or April... the messy part could have been avoided...

I agree with Livers over Bey. I think I made a Bey = Corliss Williamson post somewhere (or maybe I was just thinking that in my head...). I think Bey has a huge advantage on a second unit but on the first unit just bogs down the offense and is not what is needed. Same as you. I guess what I am asking more about is "trust factor"... Is Livers ready to make that jump yet, or does he still need to earn some trust factor due to his play on-court? Just your guess on that. As for Stew, I think he also should be on the second unit. And that Duren should start. But I think having Livers/ Bojan in front creates a rebounding/ defensive weakness and Bagley/ plus one of Livers/ Bojan is the same. Livers/Bojan I'd prefer to keep at SF and Bagley, well, he doesn't D. So maybe Stew at PF? I'd like to find one more guy more talented... One more 3 & D big should do the trick (either PF or Center... I think Duren could play either spot as a rim runner/ defender and it wouldn't matter which...).

Which is exactly where I am at with him...

I would look at them differently though. Candy is a FA after 2023 I believe so he's a 1-year stopgap to see where Keith will be by the middle/ end of next year. He's also a comeback candidate that was good in 2021, and may have some trade value at the deadline if he can get back on track. He does have a proven history, even if that history is spotty. Also it's a weak market for his position so maybe the short-term solution is to gamble on all of the above as there's no really apparent "better option". Willi I'd have to look at as a potential development "project". If the team believes his glove and/ or bat can "develop" then hold onto him. If they believe he is easily replaceable, or for whatever reason he just doesn't get it or won't be able to improve, then move on. I think this is simply a player evaluation/ decision rather than all the raft of issues surrounding 3B. Alexander has proven himself a useful lefty with weak peripherals. If I find someone better, I move him out. Otherwise, if a 40-man spot is not needed, I hold on just until...

Ukrainians are white? That's your reasoning? I find that offensive in the extreme. We spent nearly 20 years in Afghanistan. And I was completely for rebuilding that country and giving them a decent chance to build a real nation that protects its citizens and offers the right to vote and self-determination. We spent $2.3 trillion and 2,456 American lives, and 20 years trying to give Afghanistan a chance. I have never made one issue in the attempt to build a real government, not in years, lives, or cost... and was hoping that it would be a success story. Always. Go ahead and find any post that contradicts that because you won't. They don't exist. But I didn't bitch when we pulled out of Afghanistan because they aren't white enough. GFY. BTW: We pulled out of Afghanistan because their corruption forever polluted our attempts to hand them a viable government. Because the country could not break it's population from the sway of the Taliban or the heroine industry. So President Trump signed an agreement with the Taliban to leave Afghanistan (get your facts straight). I didn't make an issue of leaving Afghanistan when Trump signed that agreement because it was time. Enough years, wealth, and American lives spent on a futile effort to provide a different form of government than what the Taliban would offer. I didn't complain in February 2021 (when we were suppose to leave under Trump's agreement ) when Biden delayed the departure because his generals specifically requested more time to prepare. I didn't complain when Biden said we were leaving NOW in August of that year since our "Intelligence" had failed and it wasn't going to take a year or two for the Taliban to overrun US-trained Afghani forces, the Taliban were just sweeping them aside (or they were just dropping their weapons and running home...). It was an emergency evacuation due to an Intelligence-error. And I didn't bitch about the chaotic departure because that's what happens when intelligence fails. See Saigon, Vietnam. But Biden & his administration kept in contact with the Taliban throughout the chaos, and was able to remove US citizens with a minimum amount of issues in the face of the complete and total failure of Afghani troops and the complete takeover by the Taliban. I'm sure their may be some additional Afghani's, who may have even had US citizenship, that we were unable to free from the Taliban as they refused to allow them to leave. I have no details on that. Aside from that, those are the facts.

Personally, I would look at 2023 as an evaluation/ recovery (both health and better coaching) year and 2024 (2023 offseason) as the "make lots of moves" year.

So in other words, Ukraine is a small and insignificant country and therefore has no right to self-determination. Therefore, it is perfectly acceptable to be subjugated and exterminated by Russia if it so wishes, per you and Screwball. Gotcha. I believe in the truth that all men are created equal and have inalienable rights to self-determination, freedom, and the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. And GDP/ level of corruption do not countermand that truth. Interesting to know that you two believe the opposite. Funny thing is, you quoted your own demise: "Rising global food prices brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine... are threatening to destabilize economies around the world." In other words: Ukraine's grain sales to the world prevent hunger. They actually matter. Russia's war of genocide matters in the rise of global food prices and destabilized economies. Which is the opposite of your contention that Ukraine does not matter. I find the politics of you two to be despicable. Contemptible. IMO.

Can you compare him to Livers? Livers looks spotty at this point (IMO), at least with regards to shot consistency and floor-IQ (which could be just a lack of playing time/ games)... but, what do you think?

PS: One more thing on Candy... If Tork starts to struggle again and they decide to send him to AAA for a month or whatever... the best guy to play 1B is... Not Schoop. Not Harold. Not Miggy. It's Candy. He can play a serviceable 1B and keep Schoop at 2B, Harold on the bench, and Miggy at DH. Kreidler can cover 3B if need be... Just my 2 cents...

Maybe all our new coaches can actually do something with all these Al Avila guys and they might actually... Get better. TRUST me on this!!!! 😉

Two things: 1) In 2023... I don't see much of a choice. I don't see a long list of major improvements - players both obtainable and also definitive improvements - available to us. 2) We have a huge coterie of new coaches. I have some expectations along the lines of what I highlighted in your quote...

Yeah... That was NOT a one-way street. They willingly sucked up to Trump. Hard.

Related (quite the comical article ALL about the pending Hunter Biden investigations... all 37 of them planned by House Republicans...): https://www.yahoo.com/news/house-gop-heard-american-voters-120013000.html

This. I'm still on the bandwagon of "we have to keep Candy for this one more year...".

Oh I think I said this exact same thing above... But... you said it just so much better. More concise and to the point!

Is Chiarot slowing Seider down...? Or, put differently: When is it time to call up Edvinsson and pair him with Seider? It wouldn't bother me to drop Chiarot to the 3rd pairing... he's here as much for veteran leadership as anything else so... Maybe he can lead Lindstrom into playing better on the 3rd pairing...

Really? Please give some examples of this. I would be interested in what you think is a "legitimate fact".

Posted in a different thread... but I think it's appropriate here: A disastrous, do-nothing, chaotic, investigation-filled (of absolutely nothing), zero-policy, near-government-crashing (due to a lack of funding/ debt ceiling agreement) next 2 years would show just how bankrupt Republicans are. Which looks like exactly what we'll get from this version of House Republicans. The economy is still in full recovery and waiting to just take off, inflation and supply-side issues will soon resolve and get back to normal... so in 2 years Democratic policy/ choices will look golden and Republicans will resemble the aftermath of an alley cat fight. 2024 choices will be easy and engineer another Blue Wave. With or without Trump as the nominee. If Trump wins the nomination or goes 3rd party, that wave becomes a Tsunami... IMO. All because these House Republicans will look like absolute shit to the rest (at least 70% that is) of America...

A disastrous, do-nothing, chaotic, investigation-filled (of absolutely nothing), zero-policy, near-government-crashing (due to a lack of funding/ debt ceiling agreement) next 2 years would show just how bankrupt Republicans are. Which looks like exactly what we'll get from this version of House Republicans. The economy is still in full recovery and waiting to just take off, inflation and supply-side issues will soon resolve and get back to normal... so in 2 years Democratic policy/ choices will look golden and Republicans will resemble the aftermath of an alley cat fight. 2024 choices will be easy and engineer another Blue Wave. With or without Trump as the nominee. If Trump wins the nomination or goes 3rd party, that wave becomes a Tsunami... IMO.

I think the only way a Non-Trumpist has a chance is if trump himself gets pissed off and takes his football home. IE: DeSantis starts at 35% and Trump starts at 12%. Trump's supporters are starting to flock to the next big thing. trump gets mad, quits the primary, and says he is starting a Make America Great Again 3rd party. He steals at least some of MAGA out of the Republican primaries, opening up the field to any and all types of conservative candidates. I think that's the only hope a moderate/ centrist conservative has... including Pence and Hutch... But I also think it's not a great chance for them because even if Trump did run off like that, DeSantis or who ever had grabbed enough of a lead to piss off Trump would already have the momentum towards the nomination... The sooner Trump takes his football home and leaves the primary game... the bigger the chance for the field to open. Just my 2 cents.

Well that was a sucky finish...

I still say Hronek is playing so much better this year, even with some mistakes... And that that is largely due to Maata...

Ned's played better... I'm not worried. He's still a good 1B... just a slow start this year...